Simulated log siding system and method

ABSTRACT

A system and method for simulating log siding on a building. In particular, a pass corner siding piece and a butt corner siding piece are provided that can be attached on the same plane on opposing sides of a corner of a building to simulate a butt and pass log corner. The butt corner siding piece and pass corner siding piece can be joined to provide additional strength to the siding. A straight siding piece can also be provided to simulate a log look along the sides of the building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to siding for a building, and more particularly to a system and method for simulating log siding on a building.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] A log cabin appearance is popular for houses and other buildings. While some log buildings continue to be built, owners often prefer to have the building constructed using the more modern framing approach. Currently, a log cabin appearance is achieved for a frame-built building by stacking logs cut appropriately along the desired surface of the building and attaching the logs to the frame structure of the building. One of the more popular log styles is a “butt and pass” style. The butt and pass style is implemented by placing a “pass corner” log along one side of an outer corner of a building that extends beyond the corner of the building. A “butt corner” log is placed in the same plain along the second side of the outer corner and butts against the pass corner log. Typically, the pass corner log is placed on alternating sides along the height of the building.

[0005] However, achieving the log appearance using logs poses many drawbacks. For example, the logs typically shrink over time causing gaps between the logs to increase, thereby requiring regular maintenance to fill newly formed gaps. Regular maintenance is also required so that the logs do not lose coloration and/or start to deteriorate over time. In climates such as the southeastern United States, termites and other pests also pose a threat to the use of log siding. Additionally, many individuals view the use of a large quantity of timber as being wasteful of the available natural resources.

[0006] Use of non-wood siding such as vinyl has become increasingly popular in recent years. Non-wood siding beneficially offers less maintenance, easier installation, increased lifetime, and is often less expensive to install. Non-wood siding is commonly used to simulate a painted clapboard appearance for buildings. Some approaches have been suggested for creating a log cabin appearance using non-wood siding. However, many of these approaches fail to address creating a butt and pass log corner appearance. Further, these approaches do not provide an efficient solution for attaching the simulated log siding to a building.

[0007] As a result, there exists a need for a system and method for simulating the butt and pass log corner for an outer corner of a building. Further, there exists a need for a system and method that allows the simulated log siding to be efficiently attached to the building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention provides a system and method for simulating log siding on a building. In particular, a butt and pass log corner is simulated using a pass corner siding piece and a butt corner siding piece. Each siding piece can be attached to a respective side of an outer corner of the building on the same plane. The two siding pieces can be configured to join at the point of contact to provide additional strength to the siding. The pass corner siding piece can simulate either a full round butt and pass look or a traditional butt and pass look for the portion that extends beyond the corner. A straight siding piece can also be provided to simulate the log siding along a side of the building. A first outer edge of the siding pieces can be attached to the building by nailing, screwing, or the like. The second outer edge can be configured to slide between the first outer edge of a previously attached, adjacent siding piece. A nailing strip can be provided to assist in attaching the initial siding pieces. Each outer edge can be configured to slope in a downward direction away from the building when attached to assist in the drainage of water.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention provides a method for simulating a butt and pass log corner for an outer corner of a building, the method comprising: attaching a pass corner siding piece to a first side of the outer corner; attaching a butt corner siding piece to a second side of the outer corner on the same plane as the pass corner siding piece to form a row; and joining the butt corner siding piece to the pass corner siding piece.

[0010] A second aspect of the invention provides a system for simulating a butt and pass log corner for an outer corner of a building, the system comprising: at least one pass corner siding piece, wherein the pass corner siding piece extends approximately eight inches beyond the outer corner; and at least one butt corner siding piece that joins to the at least one pass corner siding piece proximate the outer corner.

[0011] A third aspect of the invention provides a system for simulating a butt and pass log corner for an outer corner of a building, the system comprising: pass corner siding pieces; butt corner siding pieces, wherein each butt corner siding piece joins to a pass corner siding piece proximate the outer corner; straight siding pieces; and a starter nailing strip.

[0012] The illustrative aspects of the present invention are designed to solve the problems herein described and other problems not discussed, which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a building having a simulated butt and pass log corner according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a simulated butt and pass log corner having a full round pass log look;

[0016]FIG. 3 shows a side view of a simulated butt and pass log corner having a traditional pass log look;

[0017]FIG. 4 shows a top view of the junction of a pass corner siding piece and a butt corner siding piece installed on an outer corner of a building according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0018]FIG. 5 shows a top view of the junction of two butt corner siding pieces installed on an inner corner of a building according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an illustrative siding piece according to still another embodiment of the invention;

[0020]FIG. 7 shows a close up view of portions of two adjacent siding pieces installed on a building; and

[0021]FIG. 8 shows illustrative siding pieces that join using a slot and tab system according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

[0022] It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The invention provides a system and method for simulating log siding on a building. In particular, a butt and pass log corner is simulated using a pass corner siding piece and a butt corner siding piece. Each siding piece can be attached to a respective side of an outer corner of the building on the same plane. The two siding pieces can be configured to join at the point of contact to provide additional strength to the siding. The pass corner siding piece can simulate either a full round butt and pass look or a traditional butt and pass look for the portion that extends beyond the corner. A straight siding piece can also be provided to simulate the log siding along a side of the building. A first outer edge of the siding pieces can be attached to the building by nailing, screwing, or the like. The second outer edge can be configured to slide between the first outer edge of a previously attached, adjacent siding piece. A nailing strip can be provided to assist in attaching the initial siding pieces. Each outer edge can be configured to slope in a downward direction away from the building when attached to assist in the drainage of water.

[0024] Turning to FIG. 1, a building 10 is shown having an outer corner 12 and a corresponding inner corner 13. Outer corner 12 is formed at a junction of a first side 14 and a second side 16 of building 10. Building 10 is constructed using framing, in which a foundation 18 is poured, studs 20 are installed to frame building 10, and exterior sheathing 22 and housewrap 24 are applied to the exterior of building 10 for insulation, as is well known in the art. It is understood, however, that the invention can be applied to buildings 10 constructed using any approach. Further, while outer corner 12 is shown as an approximately ninety degree angle, it is understood that the invention can be applied to an outer corner 12 having any angle more or less than ninety degrees.

[0025] Outer corner 12 of building 10 has a simulated butt and pass log corner 26 constructed according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, simulated butt and pass log corner 26 is constructed using a plurality of pairs of pass corner siding pieces 28, and butt corner siding pieces 30. Each pass corner siding piece 28 is attached to one side of outer corner 12, and a corresponding butt corner siding piece 30 is attached on the same plane as pass corner siding piece 28 to the other side of outer corner 12 thereby forming a row of siding pieces. Additional pass corner siding pieces 28 and butt corner siding pieces 30 can be attached to building 10 forming a plurality of rows along the height of outer corner 12 of building 10. In a typical embodiment, the side of building 10 on which pass corner siding piece 28 is attached is alternated for adjacent rows. In this embodiment, each pass corner siding piece 28 simulates a “full round” pass log. However, it is understood that pass corner siding piece 28 can simulate any shape, including a “traditional” butt and pass log corner. A plurality of straight siding pieces 31 are also provided to simulate a log look along sides 14, 16 of building 10.

[0026] The siding pieces can be manufactured using any approach now known or later developed. For example, siding pieces can comprise a single molded unit made of polypropylene or the like. The exterior sides of the siding pieces can be molded to simulate, for example, a natural cedar grain, texture, and/or draw knife appearance. Each siding piece can simulate a log having a width that corresponds to commonly used log widths. Typical log widths include, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, and fourteen inches and can be dependent upon the type of wood (i.e., cedar, pine, spruce, fir, etc.), and/or log style (i.e., kiln-dried handcrafted log, air-dried handcrafted log, kiln-dried cabin log, etc.) that is being simulated. Pass corner siding pieces 28 can extend beyond the corner by any desired length and can have any desired width. A typical length/width combination comprises a length of approximately eight inches beyond the building with a width of approximately seven and a quarter inches. In this embodiment, the portion of siding pieces that attach to the building would have a width of approximated three and a quarter inches. It is understood that the various siding pieces discussed herein can be provided in different lengths or can be cut to varying lengths to stagger the seams that are formed when two siding pieces abut. Further, it is understood that while each siding piece is discussed as simulating a single log, multiple adjacent logs can be simulated in a single siding piece.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a simulated butt and pass log corner 126 having the full round pass log look. In this embodiment, each pass corner siding piece 128 includes a narrower portion 132 that is attached to a building, and a rounded portion 134 having a greater height and width that extends beyond the building. Each butt corner siding piece 130 is configured to meet a pass corner siding piece 128 at the outer corner of the building. FIG. 3 shows a side view of a simulated butt and pass log corner 226 having the traditional butt and pass log look. In this embodiment, each pass corner siding piece 228 maintains substantially the same height as it extends beyond the outer corner of the building. However, each pass corner siding piece 228 has a larger width for the portion that extends beyond the building.

[0028]FIG. 4 shows a top view of the junction of a pass corner siding piece 328 and a butt corner siding piece 330 installed at a substantially ninety degree outer corner of building 310. As can be seen, butt corner siding piece 330 and the portion 332 of pass corner siding piece 328 that is attached to building 310 have substantially the same widths. However, pass corner siding piece 328 also includes a wider portion 334 that extends beyond the outer corner of the building to simulate a wider log. Pass corner siding piece 328 includes a transition portion 336 that has a width that varies from the width of portion 332 to the width of wider portion 334. In one embodiment, transition portion 336 has an interior side 338 that forms an approximately forty-five degree angle 340 with the interior side of narrow portion 332. Similarly, butt corner siding piece 330 includes a corner end 342 that forms an approximately forty-five degree angle 344 with the interior side of butt corner siding piece 330. Use of an approximately forty-five degree angle allows two butt corner siding pieces 330 to also be used at a substantially ninety-degree junction of an interior corner of a building since the two butt corner siding pieces can join to one another. For example, FIG. 5 shows the junction of two butt corner siding pieces 330A, 330B attached to building 310 at an interior corner.

[0029]FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a siding piece 50 according to one embodiment of the invention. Siding piece 50 can comprise a butt corner siding piece, a straight siding piece, and/or a pass corner siding piece. Siding piece 50 includes an interior side 52 that is attached to a building, and an exterior side 54 that faces away from the building. Exterior side 54 may include a simulated wood finish (see e.g., FIG. 1). In this embodiment, exterior side 54 is rounded. However, it is understood that exterior side 54 can comprise any shape. Siding piece 50 further includes a top outer edge 56 and a bottom outer edge 58. Top outer edge 56 is configured to slope at a slightly downward angle when siding piece 50 is installed on a building. This promotes any water that may be present to flow away from the building. Bottom outer edge 58 is also configured to slope at a slightly downward angle so that bottom outer edge 58 and a top outer edge 56 of an adjacent siding piece butt against each other.

[0030] Siding piece 50 further includes an interior bracing 60. Interior bracing 60 provides additional structural support to assist siding piece 50 in maintaining its shape. Further, interior bracing 60 can be used to support insulating material, and/or as a top outer edge of a siding piece that requires cutting to be placed on a building. For example, for a siding piece having an exterior side of eight inches, interior bracing 60 can be placed every two inches to provide support should the siding piece require cutting. Although shown at a substantially right angle to interior side 52, interior bracing 60 can be configured to slope in a slightly downward direction similar to top outer edge 56. Interior bracing 60 can run contiguously along the length of siding piece 50 or can comprise a plurality of relatively narrow supports or “ribs” spaced along the length of siding piece 50.

[0031] Siding piece 50 further includes a nailing strip 62 proximate to top outer edge 56, and a barb 64 proximate to bottom outer edge 58. As shown in FIG. 1, nailing strip 62 includes at least one row of a plurality of apertures 66 that allow a nail, screw or the like to be inserted to attach siding piece 50 to a building. Barb 64 comprises a narrowed portion of interior side 52 that is configured to slide between a nailing strip 62 of an adjacent siding piece 50 and the building to hold bottom outer edge 58 in place. In this embodiment, an interior side 68 that is adjacent to bottom outer edge 58 does not contact the building when siding piece 50 is installed. This allows interior side 68 to form a channel with the building into which the nailing strip 62 of an adjacent siding piece can be inserted to engage barb 64. Using this installation approach, it is understood that two configurations of pass corner siding pieces and butt corner siding pieces would need to be provided having their respective corner ends on opposite sides of the siding pieces.

[0032]FIG. 7 shows a close up view of portions of a siding piece 150A installed adjacent to a previously installed siding piece 150B. In this embodiment of siding piece 150B, two rows of apertures 166A, 166B are included on nailing strip 162. Siding piece 150B is attached to building 110 using rows of apertures 166A, 166B. To facilitate installation of an adjacent siding piece, the end of nailing strip 162 can include a slight bend away from building 110 when siding piece 150B is installed. To install siding piece 150A, barb 164 is slid between nailing strip 162 and building 110. Interior side 168 provides sufficient space to allow nailing strip 162 to pass between interior side 168 and building 110 and be engaged by barb 164. In one embodiment, nailing strip 162 extends about one and a half inches above top outer edge 156, interior side 168 extends about one and a half inches from bottom outer edge 158, and barb 164 has a length of about three eighths of an inch. As shown in FIG. 1, to assist in installing a first row of siding pieces, a starter nailing strip 70 can be attached to building 10. Starter nailing strip 70 can be configured in a substantially similar manner as nailing strip 162. The barbs for each siding piece in the first row of siding pieces can then be inserted between starter nailing strip 70 and building 10 in the same manner as discussed above.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 6, siding piece 50 also includes a plurality of slot supports 70. Slot supports 70 allow two siding pieces 50 that abut one another to be joined using a tab and slot approach that is commonly known in the art. While shown on interior side 52 of siding piece 50, it is understood that slot supports 70 can be placed anywhere on siding piece 50, including on one or more supports 60 and exterior side 54.

[0034]FIG. 8 shows top views of illustrative siding pieces incorporating a tab and slot system according to one embodiment of the invention. The siding pieces comprise a pass corner siding piece 428, a butt corner siding piece 430, and a straight siding piece 431. Each siding piece includes an interior side 452 that is attached to a building and an exterior side 454.

[0035] In this embodiment, pass corner siding piece 428 includes two slot supports 470 on interior side 438 for accepting tabs 472 included on corner end 442 of butt corner siding piece 430. When installed, tabs 472 align with apertures in slot supports 470 to join butt corner siding piece 430 with pass corner siding piece 428. Butt corner siding piece 430 is shown including a tab 472 proximate exterior side 454 and a tab 472 proximate interior side 452. However, it is understood that tabs 472 can be located anywhere along corner end 442 of butt corner siding piece 430 and/or interior side 438 of pass corner siding piece 428. Pass corner siding piece 428 and butt corner siding piece 430 are also shown including tabs 474 on their respective interior ends. Tabs 474 can be included to join pass corner siding piece 428 and butt corner siding piece 430 with an abutting straight siding piece 431. Straight siding piece 431 includes a slot support 476 for use with tabs 474. Slot support 476 is shown as extending the entire length of straight siding piece 431. In this configuration, slot support 476 can include a plurality of apertures spaced so that tabs 474 can be inserted and align with an aperture regardless of whether straight siding piece 431 requires cutting along its length prior to being installed on a building. It is understood that various alternative placements and configurations of tabs and slots are possible. For example, straight siding piece 431 can include a tab on one end, and slot supports on the other. Alternatively, pass corner siding piece 428 and butt corner siding piece 430 can include a slot support similar to slot support 476. In this case, a dual tab piece 478 can be provided that can be inserted in the slots of two abutting siding pieces.

[0036] The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for simulating a butt and pass log corner for an outer corner of a building, the method comprising: attaching a pass corner siding piece to a first side of the outer corner; attaching a butt corner siding piece to a second side of the outer corner on the same plane as the pass corner siding piece to form a row; and joining the butt corner siding piece to the pass corner siding piece.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the attaching steps include nailing a first outer edge of each siding piece into the side of the building.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the attaching and joining steps for a desired number of rows along the height of the outer corner of the building.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the attaching step for each siding piece for a subsequent row includes inserting a barb on a first outer edge of each siding piece between a second outer edge of a siding piece for a previous row and the building.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising joining a straight siding piece to an interior end of each pass corner siding piece and each butt corner siding piece on at least one of the first side and the second side.
 6. A system for simulating a butt and pass log corner for an outer corner of a building, the system comprising: at least one pass corner siding piece, wherein the pass corner siding piece extends approximately eight inches beyond the outer corner; and at least one butt corner siding piece that joins to the at least one pass corner siding piece proximate the outer corner.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one butt corner siding piece joins to the at least one pass corner siding piece using a slot and tab system.
 8. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one straight siding piece that joins to at least one of the at least one pass corner siding piece and the at least one butt corner siding piece.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one straight siding piece joins using a slot and tab system.
 10. The system of claim 6, wherein each siding piece includes a rounded exterior side.
 11. The system of claim 6, wherein each siding piece includes an interior bracing.
 12. The system of claim 6, wherein each siding piece includes a downward sloped ledge on each outer edge.
 13. The system of claim 6, wherein each siding piece includes a nailing strip proximate a first outer edge.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein each siding piece further includes a barb proximate a second outer edge, wherein the barb is inserted between the nailing strip of an adjacent siding piece and the building.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the top of the nailing strip angles away from the building when each siding piece is attached to the building.
 16. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one starter nailing strip.
 17. A system for simulating a butt and pass log corner for an outer corner of a building, the system comprising: pass corner siding pieces; butt corner siding pieces, wherein each butt corner siding piece joins to a pass corner siding piece proximate the outer corner; straight siding pieces; and a starter nailing strip.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein each siding piece includes: a rounded exterior side; a sloped ledge on each outer edge; a nailing strip proximate a first outer edge; and a barb proximate a second outer edge; wherein when each siding piece is installed on a side of a building, the sloped ledges are downwardly sloped, and the barb is inserted between the building and one of: the nailing strip of an adjacent siding piece and the starter nailing strip.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein each siding piece further includes an interior bracing.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the pass corner siding piece includes a rounded portion that extends beyond the outer corner. 